Hybrid tea rose plant named `Meicofum`

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of Hybrid Tea rose plant is provided which abundantly forms attractive long-lasting bicolored blossoms that are reddish orange on the upper surface and creamy yellow on the under surface. The plant exhibits an erect growth habit and moderately strong vegetation. The new variety exhibits good disease resistance and is particularly well suited for cut flower production under greenhouse growing conditions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety of Hybrid Tea rose plant was created by artificialpollination wherein two parents were crossed which previously had beenstudied in the hope that they would contribute the desiredcharacteristics. The female parent (i.e., the seed parent) of the newvariety was the `Krimony` variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,845). The maleparent (i.e., the pollen parent) was the `Mme. A. Meilland` variety(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 591). The `Mme. A. Meilland` variety commonly isknown as the `Peace` variety. The parentage of the new variety can besummarized as follows:

    `Krimony`×`Mme. A. Meilland`.

The seeds resulting from the above pollination were sown and smallplants were obtained which were physically and biologically differentfrom each other. Selective study resulted in the identification of asingle plant of the new variety.

It was found that the new variety of Hybrid Tea rose plant of thepresent invention possesses the following combination ofcharacteristics:

(a) forms attractive long-lasting bicolored blossoms that are reddishorange on the upper surface and creamy yellow on the under surface,

(b) exhibits an erect growth habit,

(c) is well suited for cut flower production under greenhouse growingconditions, and

(d) exhibits good disease resistance.

The new variety well meets the needs of the horticultural industry andis particularly well suited for the commercial production of cut flowerswhile growing indoors.

The new variety has been found to undergo asexual propagation in Franceby a number of routes, including budding, grafting, and cuttage. Asexualpropagation by the above-mentioned techniques in France has shown thatthe characteristics of the new variety are stable and are strictlytransmissible by such asexual propagation from one generation toanother.

The new variety has been named the `Meicofum` variety, and is beingmarketed under the Leonidas trademark.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph shows as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same, in a color illustration of this character,typical specimens of the plant parts of the new variety. The rose plantsof the new variety were two years of age and were observed duringNovember while budded on Rosa indica understock and growing ingreenhouses at Le Cannet des Maures, Var, France.

FIG. 1 illustrates a specimen of a young shoot;

FIG. 2 illustrates a specimen of a floral bud before the opening of thesepals;

FIG. 3 illustrates a specimen of a floral bud at the opening of thepetals;

FIG. 4 illustrates a specimen of a flower in the course of opening;

FIG. 5 illustrates a specimen of an open flower -- plan view -- obverse;

FIG. 6 illustrates a specimen of an open flower -- plan view -- reverse;

FIG. 7 illustrates a specimen of a fully open flower -- plan view --obverse;

FIG. 8 illustrates a specimen of a fully open flower -- plan view --reverse;

FIG. 9 illustrates a specimen of a floral receptacle showing thearrangement of the stamens and pistils;

FIG. 10 illustrates a specimen of a floral receptacle showing thearrangement of the pistils (stamens removed);

FIG. 11 illustrates a specimen of a flowering stem;

FIG. 12 illustrates a specimen of a main branch;

FIG. 13 illustrates a specimen of a leaf with three leaflets -- planview -- upper surface; and

FIG. 14 illustrates a specimen of a leaf with five leaflets -- plan view-- under surface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of the colors is that of The RoyalHorticultural Society (R.H.S. Clour Chart). The description is based onthe observation during November of two-year-old plants while budded onRosa indica understock and growing in greenhouses at Le Cannet desMaures, Var, France. The coloration in common terms precedes referenceto the chart.

Class: Hybrid Tea.

Plant:

Height.--When plants are pruned to a height of 0.85 m., floral stems ofapproximately 50 to 70 cm. in length commonly are formed.

Habit.--Erect.

Branches:

Color.--Young stems: light green, Green Group 139C and lightly suffusedwith reddish brown. Adult wood: medium green, Green Group 137D.

Thorns.--Size: medium. Quantity: moderately numerous. Color:greenish-reddish on young stems and greenish changing to tan on adultwood (as illustrated).

Leaves:

Stipules.--Adnate, pectinate, narrow and linear.

Petioles.--Upper surface: striped reddish brown on young foliage andmedium green on adult foliage and somewhat glandular. Under surface:light green and rarely bear small thorns.

Leaflets.--Number: commonly 3, 5 (most often), and 7. Shape: oval.Serration: single and regular. Texture: consistent. General appearance:dense, and semi-glossy. Color (young foliage): Upper surface: bronzegreen, Yellow-Green Group 146A, and suffused with reddish-browncoloration. Under surface: light green, Greyed-Green Group 191B, andsuffused with reddish-brown. Color (adult foliage): Upper surface:medium green, Green Group 137A. Under surface: light green, Green Group138B.

Inflorescence:

Number of flowers.--Usually one flower per stem.

Peduncle.--Light green in coloration and smooth. The length commonly isapproximately 12 to 13 cm. on average.

Sepals.--Upper surface: tomentose, and greenish in coloration. Undersurface: light green in coloration and commonly with a few extensions(as illustrated).

Buds.--Shape: conical. Size: medium. Length: approximately 4 cm. onaverage. Color upon opening: Upper surface: Currant Red, Red Group 46A.Under surface: light Mustard Yellow, Greyed-Yellow Green 162A, with asmall edge of Currant Red, Red Group 46A.

Flower.--Shape: cup-shaped with a high center. Diameter: approximately12 to 14 cm. on average. Color (when opening begins): Upper surface:dark red, Greyed-Purple Group 185A. Under surface: Brick Orange,Greyed-Orange Group 169B, with a small edge of deep red, Greyed-PurpleGroup 185A. Color (when blooming): Upper surface: Majolica Yellow,Greyed-Orange Group 170A. Under surface: Chrome Yellow, Yellow-OrangeGroup 15D. Color (at end of opening): Upper surface: Majolica Yellow,Greyed-Orange Group 170A. Under surface: Chrome Yellow, Yellow-OrangeGroup 15C. Fragrance: none. Lasting quality: long. When cut and placedin a vase, the blossoms commonly last approximately 7 to 9 days. Theblossom life is influenced by the environmental conditions that areencountered. Petal shape: rounded with reflexed edges. Petal drop: good.Stamen number: approximately 82 to 90 on average. Anthers: normal andochre in coloration. Filaments: canary yellow in coloration. Pistils:approximately 75 to 80 on average. Stigmas: ochre in coloration. Styles:canary yellow in coloration. Receptacle: light green in coloration,smooth, and in longitudinal section in the shape of a funnel.

Development:

Vegetation.--Moderatley strong.

Blooming.--Normal abundance.

Resistance to diseases.--Good.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Hybrid Tea rose plantcharacterized by the following combination of characteristics:(a) formsattractive long-lasting bicolored blossoms that are reddish orange onthe upper surface and creamy yellow on the under surface, (b) exhibitsan erect growth habit, (c) is well suited for cut flower productionunder greenhouse growing conditions, and (d) exhibits good diseaseresistance;substantially as herein shown and described.